Pope vs. Jobs: The Resignation-Off of the Century

Illustration by Sam Gilbey. Glass by David R. Forte.

In the latest high-profile resignation to send the technosphere reeling, popular Twitter user and leader of the Catholic Church Pope Benedict XVI said Monday that he would resign from the Vatican’s top slot.

Obviously, upon hearing the news it would be physically impossible to avoid drawing parallels to the last abdication of power by a revered, somewhat controversial religious leader with millions of devoted followers: Steve Jobs. Here’s how the two resignations stack up.

Pope Benedict

Steve Jobs

Reason for resignation

Ailing health

Ailing health

Delivered resignation via

In-person address to assembled Cardinals of Rome, in Latin

Email

Twitter followers

1.5 million

0

Distinct outfits

3 (choir, ordinary, vestments)

1

Controversially, was opposed to

Condoms

7-inch tablets

Fallible, in eyes of most devoted followers?

Maybe

No

Successor announced by

Plume of white smoke

Press release

Successor appointed by

Conclave, a secret, mysterious gathering of some of the world's most powerful men

The Apple board, which is approximately the same thing plus Al Gore

Potential pitfalls

Successor may have different beliefs than ex-Pope, causing a crisis of papal infallibility and schism in congregation